Benjamin Gilman: “A comprehensive national energy policy is in our Nation's best interest, and I am gratified that the President and the…”

“A comprehensive national energy policy is in our Nation's best interest, and I am gratified that the President and the Congress are making our Nation's energy needs a national priority. There are many provisions of H.R. 4, Securing America's Future Energy Act of 2001, that I support. However, I have some reservations about allowing drilling in the Arctic, as well as the need to fully address a meaningful increase in the corporate average fuel economy, CAFE, standards. Mr. Chairman, as we consider this measure, let us bear in mind that we cannot drill our way to energy security, and we cannot out-pump OPEC. OPEC has cut production this year by 13 percent, some 3.5 million barrels a day. For every barrel we pump, OPEC cuts its production further to maintain their high prices of oil. Mr. Chairman, by approving the CAFE standards, we would be conserving some 40 percent of the consumption of oil used in our cars and light trucks by some 8 million barrels a day. I hope we can do that. Our advanced technology for meeting CAFE standards has lagged behind. I urge my colleagues to support this measure. It is a sound measure.”